Meb Keflezighi

Mebrahtom ("Meb") Keflezighi (Ge'ez: መብራህቶም ክፍልእዝጊ mebrāhtōm kifl'igzī, Tigrinya "their lamp, part of the Lord"; born May 5, 1975 in Asmara, Eritrea) is an American athlete specializing in long distance running, especially marathons. He and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to United States.^[1] He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998, the same year in which he graduated from UCLA. While at UCLA Meb received numerous All-American awards and other accolades.^[1]

In the 2004 Summer Olympics, Keflezighi finished second in the men's marathon, winning a silver medal in a personal season's best time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 29 seconds. Keflezighi finished 42 seconds ahead of Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima, who was leading the marathon until he was pushed off the course by protester Cornelius Horan.^[2] This was the first medal won by an American man in the Olympic marathon since Frank Shorter won the gold in the 1972 Olympics and took the silver medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.^[1][2]

His fastest times for some standard distances are 3:42.29 for 1,500 meters, set in 1998; 13:11.77 for 5,000 meters, set in 2000; 27:13.98 for 10,000 meters, set in 2001 (a still-standing American record); and 2:09:15 for the marathon, set in 2009 at the New York City Marathon.

Keflezighi lives and trains in Mammoth Lakes, California, and is a member of the Mammoth Track Club.^[3] He attended San Diego High School where he won numerous^{[original research?]} state championships from 1991 to 1994. Keflezighi won in both the 1600 and the 3200 meter races.

In 2007, Keflezighi suffered from dehydration and broke his hip during the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials in Central Park. He finished in eighth place and did not qualify for the team. During the race, his friend and training partner Ryan Shay died of a heart attack.^[4]

He won the 2009 New York City Marathon, setting a personal best of 2:09:15. Keflezighi was the first American citizen to win the marathon since 1982.^[5]

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